I would not that ye should think that I know these things of myself, but it is the Spirit of God which is in me which maketh these things known unto me. For if I had not been born of God I should not have known these things. ~Alma 38:6, The Book of Mormon: the Earliest Text

29 January 2015

And the Word Was God

"In the beginning [before all time] was the Word (Christ), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God Himself. He was present originally with God. All things were made and came into existence through Him; and without Him was not even one thing made that has come into being. In Him was Life, and the Life was the Light of men." ~John 1:1-4

"31 And behold, the glory of the Lord was upon Moses, so that Moses stood in the presence of God, and talked with him face to face. And the Lord God said unto Moses: For mine own purpose have I made these things. Here is wisdom and it remaineth in me.

32 And by the word of my power, have I created them, which is mine Only Begotten Son, who is full of grace and truth.

33 And worlds without number have I created; and I also created them for mine own purpose; and by the Son I created them, which is mine Only Begotten.

35 But only an account of this earth, and the inhabitants thereof, give I unto you. For behold, there are many worlds that have passed away by the word of my power. And there are many that now stand, and innumerable are they unto man; but all things are numbered unto me, for they are mine and I know them." ~Moses 1

I love this recounting of the creation story in John, and I love the context that the first chapter of Moses, in the Pearl of Great Price, gives to the Creation account. When Moses was talking with God the Father, face to face, God tells Moses plainly that it's only this earth, the one to which Moses belongs, that He will show to Moses. Like Aslan says to Lucy in The Voyage of the Dawn Treader:

“Child" said the Voice, "I am telling you your story, not hers. I tell no one any story but his own.”

These passages give those with LDS scriptural context important insight into the nature and character of God, both the Father and the Son.

First, that not only can we see Jesus face to face and be redeemed from the fall while in this life, but that we can speak with the Father face to face, as well.

Second, that Jesus Christ is God--held the title and fulfilled that role--for this earth, among other creations. He created it, as the Word of the Father. He came to live in the brotherhood of mankind, walking in flesh, but He never called us his brothers and sisters. He calls us friends, as in John 15:15, and sons and daughters . . . but never siblings. He came and conquered so He could call us heirs, and give us all He has. That's the role of a father, of one who bequeaths to His posterity.

Jesus Christ IS the very Father of this earth, and of us all, for He created us. It is up to us whether or not we will accept His spiritual Fatherhood, and receive the gift of eternal life--life in and through Him, His type of life, for "eternal" is His name--that He offers so we may become His sons and daughters, spiritually begotten into newness of life and fellowship with His Spirit, Himself, and His Father.

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I welcome questions and concerns--they are most often what spur us closer to the truth. I only ask that we all give everyone the most generous benefit of the doubt, assigning the best motives possible. A soft answer truly does turn away wrath, and an atmosphere of Jesus's love is the best for learning, no matter which side of a discussion you're on.

About Me

Married to Vern, and loving it.
Mother by day, Jane-of-too-many-trades by night. I love my family, my Lord, and our little house and assortment of critters. God is Good, and Big enough to handle my problems, and everyone else's, too. I'm so glad. :o)